A £650million scheme will cut train times between Scotland's two major cities as well as creating hundreds of jobs.

The Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP) will see the line between the two cities electrified, reducing journey times by 10 minutes and improving reliability.

The Edinburgh to Glasgow Queen Street service that goes via Falkirk High station should take 40 minutes when the improvements come into effect in 2016.

In addition, transport chiefs are promising longer trains on the key route while passengers will benefit from having wi-fi on all trains on it from the end of next year.

Transport minister Keith Brown said the improvements would "take train journeys on Scotland's busiest commuter route into the next generation".

He added: "These enhancements to the service will be a massive boost for both cities, and all the communities which surround them, as well as benefiting Scotland's economy as a whole through additional jobs and investment.

As well as improving the Glasgow to Edinburgh service, plans are in place to revamp Queen Street station, with the existing platforms to be extended to accommodate longer trains.

A new Edinburgh gateway station will link the rail line to trams in Scotland's capital and should also improve transport connections to and from the city's airport.

Meanwhile, the Glasgow to Cumbernauld rail service will be electrified in time for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

In the future, the Dunblane to Alloa service could be upgraded while there could also be six trains an hour on the main Edinburgh to Glasgow line.

Details of the improvement programme were announced by Mr Brown on a visit to Queen Street station this morning.

He said the improvements would "not only secure faster times between Edinburgh and Glasgow, they will increase capacity, revitalise Queen Street station and protect local commuter services into Glasgow".

Changes to the EGIP scheme mean savings of £300million on the original cost have been made, with Mr Brown saying it would "save hundreds of millions for the public purse".

He said he had "every confidence" the project would be as successful as other improvements to the railway - such as the Airdrie to Bathgate line, which was delivered on time and on budget.

The transport minister said: "I look forward to seeing all the benefits EGIP will bring to Scotland, not just in transport but in improvements to our environment, the boost to our jobs market and economy and the health benefits from the reduction in carbon emissions."

The package of improvements has also been welcomed by local authority leaders in both Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Glasgow City Council leader Gordon Matheson said: "Improvements to the service between Glasgow and Edinburgh will bring significant benefits to both passengers and to business."

Councillor Lesley Hinds, transport convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, stated: "We welcome this investment in public transport which will greatly improve the journey from Glasgow to Edinburgh through the provision of a quicker service for passengers and the introduction of cleaner, more efficient, rolling stock."

She added that the new Edinburgh gateway would provide a "welcome boost in public transport connections from Edinburgh airport to the heart of the city".

Meanwhile, Nigel Wunsch, Network Rail's head of strategy and planning for Scotland, said: "Network Rail welcomes the Scottish Government's commitment to delivering EGIP and we look forward to continuing to work with them and other partners to deliver this project to improve the rail network for the people of Scotland."